Chapter 135

Chapter 135 The very next day, Leonard went straight to the designated meeting place and told Demian, “Commander Demian, there’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I received this as a reward for the test.”

When Leonard took out the golden dagger from his pocket, Demian’s eyes widened in surprise as he recognized it.

“Mimong?! That’s the treasured artifact that old man Wade cherished so much!”

His reaction was beyond anything Leonard had expected. Demian carefully took the dagger, tapping it a few times to verify its authenticity, then shook his head in amazement.

The fact that the White Dragon Commander, among the ten strongest individuals in the Cardenas family, was this shocked showed just how significant the dagger was. Leonard now realized that Wade’s gift was not just a valuable trinket.

What exactly was this golden dagger? S~eaʀᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Ah, sorry. I got carried away. So this is an ancient artifact.”

Although he clearly coveted it, Demian returned the golden dagger, Mimong, to Leonard.

Leonard took it back and pricked up his ears. “An ancient artifact?”

“Yes. It dates back to the era when the Void Deities, the very thing we’re going to hunt today, roamed the heavens and the underworld freely.”

Hearing that it was over a thousand years old, Leonard looked down at the dagger in his hand with wide eyes. It had an antique design, but there was no sign of corrosion on the blade or hilt. Even inspecting it with his Dragon Eyes, he couldn’t detect anything unusual. It was hard to believe this dagger had endured over a millennium.

Seeing how Leonard was inspecting the artifact with his Dragon Eye, Demian chuckled.

“You can’t see anything, right? Well, not even our Dragon Eye can grasp the properties of this dagger. Mimong is an artifact of the highest tier.”

These kinds of artifacts involved rules different from divine power or magic, and nothing else was known about them. Though they were fascinating research subjects, most of them didn’t possess remarkable functions. Even some modern artifacts could outperform mid-to-high-tier ancient relics, so there was little reason to use something without proven principles.

However, artifacts of the highest tier, like Mimong, were different.

“Leonard, draw your blade and create an Aura Blade.”

“Understood.”

Holding Mimong in his left hand, Leonard drew his blade and formed an Aura Blade with his other hand as Demian instructed. However, he hesitated at Demian’s next instruction

“Now strike the Aura Blade with Mimong.”

“...Don’t you mean the other way around?”

“No, I meant what I said.”

With a knowing expression, Demian explained, “This ancient artifact, Mimong, has the power to cut through anything. Aura Blades and supreme spells are no exception. It’s not kept in a sheath because nothing can withstand its cutting power.”

In disbelief, Leonard swung his left hand.

Then—

Clang!

With a sharp sound, the Aura Blade blazing on his sword was cleanly severed and fell to the ground. Though he hadn’t amplified it, seeing the Five Elements Augmented Qi being cleaved effortlessly was astonishing.

This sight shattered Leonard’s understanding of augmented energy, the pinnacle of destructive power that martial artists could manifest.

“What the...?”

Leonard was utterly dumbfounded.

“Don’t be too shocked. It’s the same for my Aura Blade. It’s a relic that could have been designated as a strategic weapon if it could cut through concepts or laws.”

Demian went on to explain in more detail, “Mimong’s ability is limited to its blade. It can’t create Aura Blades or Aura Swords. At best, it’s useful for assassination, but there’s no reason for the Cardenas family to use assassins against humans. When dealing with monsters, you usually need to make bigger cuts or target conceptual areas. It doesn’t hinder regeneration, after all.”

Leonard, having regained some composure, asked, “So, it’s not very practical in combat?”

“It’s not useless... but it’s a weapon that’s difficult to use effectively at the Transcendence Tier, and it’s outright unnecessary for someone at the Demigod Tier. It’s incredibly valuable, but otherwise not very practical. So it’s perfect for a gift.”

“I see.”

To confirm this, Leonard tried infusing Mimong with energy, but he couldn’t form even a hint of sword energy, let alone augmented sword energy. Now he finally understood.

This weapon had a severe disadvantage when it came to range. Of course, it could inflict a critical blow if the opponent was caught off guard, but anyone who saw Mimong would sense something was off.

The appeal of being able to overwhelm your opponent in a direct sword clash is strong... but it’s all for naught if that clash doesn’t happen.

This was even more true when fighting Demigod Tier warriors. Even if Leonard managed to land a hit on Demian with Mimong, it would be nullified by the reversal from his visualization of mirrors. The cutting power of Mimong would also fall within that reflective range.

As Demian put it, the dagger was a relic with some value but ultimately very limited in terms of utility.

“Wait a moment.”

With a hint of hope, Leonard closed his eyes and focused his will on Mimong. The effort required was immense, but he succeeded. Mimong began to hover and circle Leonard, controlled by his will.

Demian, rarely impressed, exclaimed, “Sword Manipulation? Yes, that would maximize Mimong’s abilities!”

Indeed, the issue of range was only relevant when wielding it by hand. A flying sword didn’t have such limitations.

Using Mimong with Sword Manipulation could turn its small size as a dagger into an advantage. It would be harder to dodge compared to a longsword, and even if the opponent tried to block it, their defense would just be pierced.

However...

“...No, it’s not feasible for now.”

Leonard wiped the sweat from his forehead and stored Mimong back in its case. Although Sword Manipulation wasn’t nullified, handling the ancient relic itself consumed immense mental energy. The weapon seemed to have a will of its own, trying to move independently. Controlling it had sapped nearly half of Leonard’s mental energy.

Though it wasn’t something he could master in a day or two, it was an opportunity to train his mental power.

“When I’ve mastered handling Mimong, I’ll show you first, Commander.”

“Hah! Great, I look forward to it.”

Demian cheerfully acknowledged Leonard’s ambition and began walking toward the edge of the Forest of Swords. They were to be escorted to the mission site by an outsider who couldn’t enter the forest. A mage was waiting for them not far away.

Noticing the robe of the Wickeline family, Leonard whispered softly, “Are we moving using space magic instead of a spatial portal?”

“The nearest spatial portal to the mission site is over several hundred kilometers away. In a situation like this, we just ask the Wickeline family to assist us.”

It wasn’t well-known outside the Empire, but the Three Noble Houses didn’t see each other as competitors. Their domains and specialties were so different that cooperation was more beneficial than rivalry.

The mage from the Wickeline family, who had finally noticed the two of them, looked slightly irritated. “You’re late, Commander Demian. I’ve told you many times that my time is precious.”

“Hey, don’t be so hard on me. Let’s take it easy.”

“You’ve been late every single time!”

While Demian smoothly dismissed the complaint, Leonard assessed the mage’s power through his mana mastery.

He was a top-tier Class 7 Archmage, possibly on par with Jack Russell. It made sense that such a mage had been summoned here, given that space magic was inherently higher-class magic, thus consuming a significant amount of mana. Since there was no mention of his participating in the subjugation mission, he was likely here solely to transport them to and from the mission site.

While the Cardenas family is abundant with Transcendence Tier knights, the Wickeline family seems to be overflowing with Archmages, Leonard thought.

The mage, noticing Leonard’s gaze, turned to him.

“I heard you were going alone?”

It was a reasonable question.

“He’s going to support me,” said Demian.

“Does a Demigod Tier knight need an assistant? Well, if you’ve brought him yourself, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

As he quietly listened to them, Leonard noticed a pair of long, pointed ears poking out from inside the mage’s hood—a most unusual feature for a human.

“...An elf?” Leonard unwittingly murmured, drawing both Demian and the mage’s attention. It didn’t seem like they were hiding something.

“A newcomer, huh? Seems like he doesn’t know much about the Wickeline family’s heritage.”

“Something like that. Let’s explain it briefly.”

With that, Demian proceeded to casually reveal the truth.

“Just as the Cardenas family inherited dragon blood, the Wickeline family are descendants of the ancient High Elves. This makes them more attuned to the world’s laws and grants them long lifespans, making it easier to excel as mages. When Ancestral Return happens, some even become spiritualists, with one or two per generation contracting with Spirit Kings.”

The mage from the Wickeline family yelled in protest, “Wait a minute, Commander! That’s classified information!”

“Is it? Everyone seems to know once they’ve been around a while, so I must’ve mixed it up.” Demian winked at Leonard as he offered an excuse.

“It’s fine. Would I take him along for no reason? He’s a talent capable of becoming a commander. I snagged him before the Red and Blue Dragon Commanders could. Telling him common knowledge isn’t a big deal, right? Give me a break.”

“Well, if he really is a future commander candidate... It’s not such a big issue.”

The mage, now in front of Leonard, scrutinized his eyes with curiosity and interest. “Huh? Interesting. Your soul has two overlapping rings. I’ve never even seen this in ancient texts. Is this what makes a commander candidate different from the rest?”

Leonard, now intrigued, asked back, “Can all Wickelines see soul rings?”

“It’s my unique trait. Similar to the eyes you and Commander Demian possess, though a bit inferior.”

After the brief explanation, the mage began drawing a long-range teleportation circle on the ground. He completed the magic circle for three people in a few minutes, using prepared magic stones to conserve mana. After verifying their positions, he closed his eyes.

“We’re moving. Don’t step out of the magic circle.”

Multi-Teleport, a modified Class 7 spell, was activated, smaller in scale than the Class 8 spell Mass Teleport.

A blinding light surged, and when it subsided, there was no one left.

* * *

Though it was unlike a spatial portal, the principle was similar, and the spatial distortion caused by the spell dragged the three of them across a vast distance, each second feeling like an entire minute.

Leonard, sensing the cooler and lighter air around him, opened his eyes. The atmosphere reminded him of the breeze felt from a high mountain from his past life.

Sure enough, it was as he had expected.

“...Where are we?”

They were at the peak of an unknown mountain range. The altitude was so high that clouds swirled far below them. It was at least several thousand meters high—an altitude where breathing would be difficult for untrained individuals. Could this mountain peak be the site of their mission to subjugate the Void Deity?

Understanding Leonard’s confusion, Demian spoke up, “I assume you’ve covered the basics of Void Deities?”

“Yes.”

“Then try thinking a bit further.”

He advised Leonard that the documents he had studied only offered rudimentary information and that applying that knowledge required ingenuity.

“The Void Deities gain strength from worshippers, from those who fear them, and even from those who are simply aware of existence, in that order of importance. Worshippers provide more power than those who fear, and those who are afraid more than those who simply know.”

“...”

“Leonard, would you worship a being you can see and touch anytime as your god? Would you fear a being whose dwellings and way of life you know about?”

Leonard had an epiphany. “The Void Deities have to reside in places where humans can’t live or reach.”

“Correct.”

“So, they dwell in high mountains, polar regions, deserts, or volcanic areas where fear naturally arises?”

“Exactly.”

The fear of natural disasters had always been linked to faith in gods, ever since ancient times. The reason the gods who command lightning were revered and possessed the divinity of a Chief God or Great God was precisely so. Fear itself provided a basis for faith.

Sailors worshiped sea gods, and hunters worshiped beast gods—always fearing what could consume them.

“That’s why the temple of Tyr, the Void Deity discovered by our Order of the White Dragon, is hidden on a remote mountain peak.”